Dallas Man’s Profound Comments About Family Earn 100,000 Facebook Likes In An Hour

Five stories that have North Texas talking: what did a Dallas-area man say about his family that generated so much Facebook attention?; NRA isn't happy with folks who carry guns into Texas restaurants; the mad dash for cash in Victory Park went well last night; and more.

Mike Merschel, the books editor at The Dallas Morning News, appeared on the Humans of New York Facebook page, talking about family. His comments have generated lots of Facebook love.

Credit Humans of New York/Facebook

A North Texas man made some heartfelt comments about his family, which has generated a lot of Facebook love. On Monday night, the post featuring Mike Merschel had generated 100,000 “likes” in about an hour. Merschel was featured on the popular Facebook page of Humans of New York (There’s also the popular book Humans of New York and the popular blog Humans of New York.) The project features pictures and observations of people on the streets of New York. What did he say?

"I've got a wife and three kids, and a job I'm trying to hold on to. It's a lot of work and it's a lot to worry about, so it's easy to fall into a routine where all I'm doing is worrying about the next moment. In the midst of all this, sometimes I have to force myself to step back and appreciate the wonderful things that have already happened: one of my children is a budding artist, the other is beautifully kind, and the other is full of energy and potential. And they're all happy. And they're all healthy."

Merschel, the books editor for The Dallas Morning News, was in New York City last week to cover BookExpo America, the big book event. He wrote on The News' website that he was heading over to a party when he stopped to check his phone near Central Park. That’s when a photographer approached him. Monday's Facebook post also generated thousands of positive comments, including strangers telling him he's a great dad.

The National Rifle Association isn’t too happy with folks who are carrying rifles in restaurants in Texas. Using guns to draw attention to yourself in public defies common sense and shows a lack of consideration, according to this NRA blog post. “It's downright weird and certainly not a practical way to go normally about your business while being prepared to defend yourself,” the NRA post says. “It can be downright scary. It makes folks who might normally be perfectly open-minded about firearms feel uncomfortable and question the motives of pro-gun advocates.” The message comes after customers brought rifles to a San Antonio Chili’s and after gun rights advocates brought military-style assault rifles into a Dallas Chipotle last month. Chipotle recently announced it will no longer welcome guns in its restaurants. The Dallas-based parent company of Chili’s says it’s reviewing its policy on guns in its restaurants.

Monday night’s dash for cash seemed to go well in Dallas. We told you Monday about Hidden Cash DFW, and how a 19-year-old unemployed woman placed money in envelopes and hid them around Victory Park. She posted clues on Twitter. People seemed to have a good time. Dallas police reported on Twitter that there were hundreds of folks in Victory Park and there were no disturbances – just “good clean fun.” Now people are hoping the effort will spread to other cities across North Texas. The North Texas effort was inspired by an anonymous person who left money in envelopes around San Francisco last week.

What did W.A. Criswell think of Roe vs. Wade?Politico Magazine has a lengthy story on the rise of the religious right – and includes reaction from the former pastor of First Baptist Church. (He died in 2002.) Politico reports: “When the Roe decision was handed down, W. A. Criswell, the Southern Baptist Convention’s former president and pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas—also one of the most famous fundamentalists of the 20th century—was pleased: ‘I have always felt that it was only after a child was born and had a life separate from its mother that it became an individual person,’ he said, ‘and it has always, therefore, seemed to me that what is best for the mother and for the future should be allowed.’” But the Baptist Standard reports Criswell eventually changed his position on abortion. [h/t Frontburner/D Magazine]

Our sister station has announced the lineup for KXT’s Summer Cut: The Happy Funtime Fest.Musical acts include Death Cab For Cutie; Iron & Wine; The Hold Steady; The Oh Hellos; The Wild Feathers; Thao & The Get Down Stay Down; The Unlikely Candidates; The Orbans and Valise. It’s Aug. 15 at Gexa Energy Pavilion. Order VIP tickets here. The KXT presale starts Wednesday. Keep your eyes on KXT’s Facebook page and KXT.org for more details.

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